Fr. Michael earned a B.Th. in Theology from Christ the Saviour Seminary in Johnstown, Pennsylvania; a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania; and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Theology from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He is also studying Business at Villanova University.

On September 22, 2009, Fr. Michael was elected as the bishop of OCA's newly reconstituted Diocese of New York and New Jersey. On October 24 of that year, he was tonsured as a monastic at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery in preparation for his consecration to the episcopacy.